Abstract

Over the years, multiple articles on Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) were published, highlighting the relative advantages or drawbacks of these combinations. Many studies were comparative. Because none of the studies compare all combinations and methodology varies between studies, there is no homogeneity. A multi-treatment Bayesian random-effects meta-analysis was designed to assess the relative effect of each combination therapy to artesunate + sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (4 mg/kg/day for 3 days). By far the most attractive result for the variable adequate clinical and parasitological response at day 28 PCR corrected is given by the combination artemether-lumefantrine. Annual follow-up on the data published is intended to reveal the changes in the relative drug efficacy values of ACTs.

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Koram KA, Abuaku B, Duah N, Quashie N, 2005. Comparative efficacy of antimalarial drugs including ACTs in the treatment of uncomplicated malaria among children under 5 years in Ghana. Acta Trop 95 :194–203.